Kenya risks losing the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Training Centre at Moi Stadium Complex. Tennis Kenya (TK) President James Kenani confirmed the report and said they have been given an ultimatum until the end of next year to finish the project or risk losing it to other countries all together.
“We have been told that this facility needs to be ready by the end of the New Year or we lose it to either neighbour Uganda or Rwanda,” said Kenani.
The project was commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta and the ITF president, David Haggerty alongside top Ministry of Sports officials in 2018. The centre was initially moved from Burundi to Kenya temporarily due to political turmoil in the country and ITF hope the country would make strides and build a world-class facility at Kasarani.
World-class facility
Kenani said they have been in touch with the Ministry of Sports, who have asked for documentation from the ITF and hopes the construction will start in the New Year. The training centre was to cost between Sh 400 and Sh 600 million with government footing close to 90% of the budget.
“This is a good opportunity for us to ensure tennis players from across the country have an opportunity to play considering the private membership clubs have become very expensive,” said Kenani.
ITF had given a grant of Sh 5 million to cater for nets, tennis balls, cameras and other miscellaneous expenses for the facility. This grant has, however, been suspended due to inactivity at the venue. Other facilities earmarked for construction included cafeteria, an administration block, swimming pool, hostels, gymnasium and floodlights.
The facility was expected to rival the ITF Training Centre in Casablanca, Morocco and Pretoria South Africa once complete and at the same time, attract players from the East and Central Africa region. Kenani hopes to have the Kenya Open played next year after failing to stage it this year due to lack of sponsorship as well as get hosting rights for the Euro -Africa Davis Cup group 3 tournament.
